The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-18
THE MERMAN.


Malangen, Norway, laid up with a
sprained ankle. One evening my farmer
host, Bernt Olaffscn, told me the follow
ing story. l believed it; SO would you
If you had heard him tell it.
lwas left an orphan when about eight
years old, and went to live with my
cousin Karen, who had been servant in
the family of the minister at Alstadt, but
who then lived at Kralholm, in Welgc-
land, having some months before married
Elias, fisherman of that place. Kral-
holm, for some reason, has ever been the
haunt of ghosts, mermen and all wicked
spirits of the sea. 1t took Karen and me
q long to become accustomed to the
strange sights and sounds of the lonely
beach where her cottage stood.
Her husband, CHEEKY, hearty man,
laughed at our fears, assuring us that the
sea spirits had no power over those who
led godly lives and who avoided all
dealings with them; so when six years
had passed away, bringing with them
children and all other blessings, Karen's
fears had long since been forgotten. Then
suddenly Elias seemed to change. He
became gloomy and silent. He was, as
ever, kind and good, but his jokes and
laughter were no longer heard. This
was very strange, and, stranger still, he
suddenly stopped all talk about the new
1en-oared boat he had meant to buy, to
take the place of of the old "six-oar,"
almost worn out with long service That
new ''ten-oar" had been the theme of
many a tireside talk, for it was to be the
finest on Kralholm beach, but now for
two years we heard nothing about it.
Karen was, of course, very anxious, and
VI last l, having grown to be a stout
lad of sixteen ventured to question him
plainly, Karen joined me, and at last
he spoke out.
One day, two years before, he was
walking on an unfrequented part of the
beach, armed with his fish spear, and
came suddenly upon huge seal, lying
asleep upon rock. 1t was the largest
he had ever seen, but, strange to say, he
felt afraid of it, and wished to run away
say strange, for no one ever fears q
seal. and the larger it is the better the
prize.
Elias mustered up his courage, crept
close to the sleeping monster, and drove
the spear deep into its back. With a
frightful yell of rage and pain, such as
no true seal ever uttered, the brute raised
itself, wrenching the staff out of the
fsherman's hands. Itstood erect, SEEM
ing to grow as tall as boats mast.
Screaming and gnashing its teeth, it
.glared at Elias with fierce, bloodshot
eyes, while he, half-deadwith fear, could
not murmur prayer. With one final
below it plunged into the sea, carrying
with it the harpoon, and disco!oring the
water with blood. Elias did not speak
of this incident to any one. He was, in
truth, ashamed. He had been frightened
BY seal; had missed his blow, and lost
rot only his prize, but his harpoon as
well. He would be laughed at. After
ward he found floating the staff of his
spear, the iron having been broken off.
One night, shortly after this, he heard
great noise in the boat house. He i'm
mediately rose and went to see if any
mischief were on foot. 1t was midnight,
stormy and very dark. Entering the boat
house he heard no sound, and at first
could see nothing. Suddenly the light
OF his lantern fell upon huge black mass,
from which rose grinning and snarling
the fierce head of monster seal. He re-
membered it well, and while he stood,
terror stricken, the head grew human,
the seal disappeared, and in its place was
large man, entirely naked, who rushed
past Elias, striking the lantern from his
hand, but not SO quickly that the poor
fellow could not see sticking fast between
his shoulders the spesr of his lost har-
roon. He realized then what he had
done, what vengeance he had provoked,
with whom he had dealt ard had still to
deal. Karen found him lying in swoon,
the broken lantern by his SIDE. He
told her nothing, and from that day
was silent and gloomy, for he knew that
he had incurred the deadly hare of mer-
man, than which no greater evil can be-
fall seafaring man.
But he kept on with his fishing, and
one dark morning, as he was sailing out,
he heard deepyoiCe that seemed to call
from the sea itself:
Your boat sails WELL for the wind is free;
Wait till you've sailed race with me!
When the sky is black and the dead afloat,
LII show you the match of your ten-oared
boat
His men thought it was some neighbor
wishing to play them track. Elias knew
what it was.
From that day he lived in terror. He
gave up all idea of buying ten-oarcd
boat, partly because he did not think it
worth while for the short time he be-
Ieved he had to live, partly because the
merman's words seemed to warn him
against sailing in such craft.
We said all we could,to cheer him, at
6rst with little effect; but as months and
seasons passed and nothing evil happened
his gloom wore away, he became his old
self, and again all his talk was of a new
ten-oared boat.
Spring came and day was fixed when
We were to sail around to Ranen, sell the
old boat for what it would fetch and buy
the new one. Great were the prepara-
tions, for we intended to make a pleas
ure party of it, and take Karen and all
the children. My wife insisted that she
should stay at home so that the industri-
Gus house mother should have at least one
days diversion-that is, she was not my
wife then; she was an orphan, like me,
who had been adopted by the kind fish
erman. Oh, if Elsa had only gone with
us we would have come back safe and
happy, for Elsa is Finn. and the Finns
know all sea magic and can bring to
nought all the entertainments oil the mcr